Ellie Kildunne will start on the wing for England in Saturday's Women's Six Nations match against Scotland, marking a significant positional shift from her usual full-back role.
This will be the 26-year-old's first Six Nations start on the wing. The move is part of several strategic changes by England's coaching staff as they navigate injuries and absences in key positions.
"Emma Sing has been brilliant all season at full-back, so rightly she deserves the opportunity," said England defence coach Sarah Hunter. "But obviously, Ellie's a world-class player and has that versatility to be able to play on the wing and the skill set to be able to play how we want."
Another notable change sees back row player Abi Burton deployed at lock, where England's depth has been tested. The team is without locks Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, and Rosie Galligan, who are all pregnant, while Morwenna Talling is out of the tournament with a leg injury sustained in last weekend's opening win over Ireland.
Hunter praised Burton's adaptability, saying: "Abi is such a brilliant character that she's just gone 'alright, I'll put my head in there.' She will do anything for an England shirt, and if that means going in the second row, that means going in the second row. She's been brilliant."
Other lineup changes include Zoe Harrison regaining the fly-half position from Holly Aitchison, 19-year-old Demelza Short making her debut in the back row, and Emma Sing starting at full-back, bringing her long-range kicking ability to the position.
Kildunne's move to wing could showcase her explosive running skills in open space, though she'll need to quickly adapt to the different defensive responsibilities of the position. Scotland's Helen Nelson, known for her tactical kicking, may look to exploit space around Kildunne, while Rhona Lloyd—who will line up opposite Kildunne—has scored 11 league tries for Sale this season.
Prop Maud Muir will earn her 50th cap for England, starting at tighthead in place of Sarah Bern. The bench includes experienced players like 112-cap Marlie Packer and Gloucester-Hartpury's Mia Venner.
England, aiming for their eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations title, face Scotland without several World Cup-winning players, including number eight Alex Matthews, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The match kicks off at 13:30 BST on Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, with live coverage on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website.